The Major League Baseball rookie class is full of talent that includes the New Yok Yankees' Masahiro Tanaka and the St. Louis Cardinals' Michael Wacha. USA TODAY Sports looks at five rookies to watch and why they could make an impact at the next level:

Kissimmee, Fla. -- When it comes to combining power and speed, one player did it better last season than anyone else.

And it wasn't Mike Trout or Andrew McCutchen.

Outfielder George Springer hit a combined .303 with 37 home runs and 45 stolen bases in the minor leagues at Class AA and AAA. The Houston Astros prospect is being mentioned this spring as a potential American League rookie of the year.

But Springer, 24, isn't buying into the hype.

"There was a lot of stuff that I did wrong that I could have done better," he says. "I haven't hit 1.000 yet. I haven't caught every ball. I haven't stolen every base. There's always room for improvement."

Springer struck out 161 times in 492 at-bats last season, but manager Bo Porter has noticed how Springer has taken instruction and put it into practice.

Even though he's 2-for-18 (.111) in the exhibition season, Springer leads the Astros in walks (six) and stolen bases (four).

Houston finished with 111 losses last season, by far the most in the majors. But a rebuilding process is in place and with talented youngsters such as Springer and a pair of No.1 overall draft picks in pitcher Mark Appel (2013) and shortstop Carlos Correa (2012), the worst may be over.

"It doesn't just start with us. The groundwork has been laid," said Springer, the 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft.

All three players could be in the majors in short order, providing what the Astros believe will be a solid foundation.

"That's not up to me," he said. "The only thing I can control is how hard I play, my effort and my attitude."

--- Steve Gardner

***

Cubs thinking long term with Bryant

Mesa, Ariz. -- The Chicago Cubs might have finished with the National League's second-worst record last season, but a group of talented young prospects could turn things around quickly.

Perhaps the best of those prospects is 22-year-old third baseman Kris Bryant.

After winning college player of the year honors at San Diego, the Cubs selected Bryant with the second overall pick in last June's draft. And he has done nothing but impress since then.

After signing, Bryant moved through three levels of the minor leagues, hitting a combined .336 with nine homers in 128 at-bats.

In the prospect-laden Arizona Fall League, Bryant was even better. He hit .364 and led the league with six home runs and a 1.184 OPS and was named the AFL's MVP.

"The experience of the Fall League, going up there and playing against some of the best competition," he said this week, "I think that was kind of a little turning point for me, giving me a lot of confidence to go out there every day and believe that I'm better than the pitcher."

There's no sign of him being overmatched. In his first at-bat this spring, he launched a two-run homer to center field against the Los Angeles Angels that carried more than 420 feet.

The Cubs don't seem to be in any hurry to rush their prodigy. General manager Jed Hoyer has said Bryant is likely to begin the 2014 season at ClassAA.

At 6-5 and 215 pounds, Bryant is big for a third baseman, leading to speculation he could be moved to another position. The Cubs have two other first-round picks who play third in Josh Vitters (2007) and Mike Olt (2010).

"Obviously I haven't played a full season (as a pro)," Bryant said. "But in terms of the preparation … it's the same. You're playing against the ball."

Scottsdale, Ariz. -- A Monday night in early March carried a big-league feel for Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Archie Bradley. In his first spring start, he faced a Colorado Rockies lineup that closely resembles the one they'll put on the field when the regular season opens.

The best lineup he has ever faced? "Oh yeah," the 21-year-old chuckled.

But showing the poise on the mound that has helped make him the Diamondbacks' top pitching prospect — and perhaps the best overall pitching prospect — Bradley was up to the challenge. The tall right-hander from Oklahoma held Michael Cuddyer, Carlos Gonzalez, Troy Tulowitzki and the rest of the Rockies scoreless through three innings, allowing one hit and striking out six.

"I've watched those guys for a couple years now," Bradley said. "To finally be on the mound, looking at 'em in a game, competing against 'em and to get 'em out was exciting and fun."

Proving it was no fluke, he blanked the Los Angeles Angels for 31/3 innings in his second start.

It's something the Diamondbacks have seen often from Bradley after drafting him seventh overall in 2011. He dominated minor league hitters last season, going 14-5 with a 1.84 ERA in 26 starts, spending most of the year at ClassAA Mobile (Ala.).

"I just want to build off that," he said. "Whether that's starting the year in the big leagues or wherever they decide."

With the Diamondbacks opening the regular season with two games in Australia next week, Bradley likely will begin the 2014 season in the minors so he can stay on a regular schedule. But with fifth starter Bronson Arroyo nursing a back injury, there might be an opportunity sooner rather than later.

— Steve Gardner

***

GALLERY: BASEBALL'S 100 NAMES TO KNOW

USA TODAY Sports counted down the 100 names you need to know for the 2014 season. Players are ranked in order of their anticipated impact this season. Photos of some of the players. 1. Masahiro Tanaka, RHP, Yankees (Photo: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports)

Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:

Bradenton, Fla. -- When it comes to young pitching prospects, the Pittsburgh Pirates are far more concerned with the process of pitching than the results.

Gerrit Cole, the first overall pick in the 2011 draft, could have blown away just about any hitter he faced last year at ClassAAA Indianapolis. But he struck out 6.2 batters per nine innings in 12 starts.

However, the Pirates were more concerned with the development of his pitches — all four — so that when they called him up, he had the confidence to throw each one for strikes.

He was even better down the stretch. In five September starts, Cole went 4-0 with a 1.69 ERA, striking out 39 batters in 32 innings (11.0 K/9). And in the National League Division Series against the St.Louis Cardinals, he posted a 2.45 ERA and 0.64 WHIP in two starts — with 10 strikeouts and two walks in 11 innings.

The Pirates have a similar plan for 22-year-old Jameson Taillon, the second overall pick in the 2010 draft.

Last season, his minor league numbers weren't impressive — a 5-10 record, 3.73 ERA and 143 strikeouts in 1471/3 innings.

But there was a plan in place. His pitching coaches forced him out of his fastball-curve comfort zone and encouraged him to throw at least 20 changeups every start. He'll need all three pitches when it comes time to get major league hitters out.

As for Taillon, he's feeling more comfortable in his second spring with the big-leaguers.

"I think last camp was spent a little more just trying to get familiar with how things are done up here," he said. "Now, I know the guys, I know the coaches, I know the routine. So I can actually work on pitching and not the clubhouse stuff."

Taillon was sent to the Pirates minor league camp this week. But if he can learn to command all three of his pitches, don't be surprised if the Pirates call on him the way they did with Cole last season — for an extra push in the playoff chase.

— Steve Gardner

***

Cincinnati Reds' Billy Hamilton set a minor league record with 155 stolen bases in 2011.(Photo: Darron Cummings, AP)

Hamilton aiming for swift transition with Reds

Goodyear, Ariz. -- Billy Hamilton hangs the T-shirt in his locker so that nobody passing by can miss the message:

SPEED KILLS.

It's an apt description of Hamilton's professional prospects - he set a baseball record with 155 stolen bases in 2011 - and the company he keeps. A friend approached him a few years ago with the idea to start a brand built around rapidity.

Yet Hamilton also realizes his future - and, to an extent, the Cincinnati Reds' - is closely tied to his ability to do more than fly around the bases.

"I have to do what I can to make my team win," he says. "I feel comfortable. I feel relaxed. I just feel like I'm having more fun."

That's what the Reds need. Leadoff hitter Shin-Soo Choo is gone, off to the Texas Rangers for $130 million. Hamilton, all of 6 feet and 160 pounds, isn't about to replace Choo's 21 homers and .462 slugging percentage.

But if Hamilton can more closely resemble a finished product, it would be a huge boon for the Reds. In making the jump from a 2012 season spent at Class A and AA to a full 2013 at Class AAA Louisville, Hamilton saw his on-base percentage drop from .410 to .308.

This spring, he has been working on his bunting, refining his skills to better position him to break with the club - and stay there. Early Cactus League results have been encouraging: Hamilton batted .316 with a .435 OBP - along with six steals in six attempts, of course - in their first six games.

But the verdict on Hamilton won't be in for a while.

I think by the halfway point of next year, we'll have a better feel of what we can kind of expect from him," says Reds first baseman Joey Votto. "He's exciting. New players are exciting. But it takes a few years for players to get to their baseline."

In the meantime, there will be bursts of brilliance. Hamilton's speed is such that he's difficult to throw out even when pitcher and catcher know he's running. Should he break with the big club, an extended slump or two is almost inevitable.

Eaton, who is expected to bat leadoff for the White Sox after an offseason trade from the Arizona Diamondbacks, says the SPEED KILLS ethos is simple, and will serve Hamilton well even while working through a year of growth.

"Don't let anybody say you can't do something," Eaton says. "He has that same type of attitude. I think he's going to push the envelope. And I hope he does."